The quote for this article comes from Democritus:
“Happiness dwells not in possessions and not in gold; happiness dwells in the soul.”
The soul is the essence of who we are, residing within our bodies. It can grow, even when our physical bodies may not be able to after a certain age. The soul is shaped by our unique perspective on the world, the surrounding things, and the people we encounter. Therefore, the idea that happiness resides in the soul is truly profound. Everything external is transient—we can lose it through job loss, war, natural disasters, and more. However, who we are at our core can never be taken from us unless we allow it.
Each of us is the master of our own self, our soul, and we decide whether external circumstances can shake our inner peace. It is astonishing, yet whether something hurts us or someone wears us down ultimately lies within us. We can choose to dwell on certain thoughts for days, weeks, or months, or we can simply shake them off and move forward.
If we cling to possessions and wealth, we may find ourselves betraying our souls to maintain what we have. For example, if a government shifts from democracy to dictatorship, we face a choice: we can relinquish our wealth and possessions to invest in a future in another country, thereby protecting our soul and beliefs, or we can cling to our possessions and compromise our integrity by conforming to the dictatorship. Will this choice make us happier? Does it foster our growth and nourish our souls?
Ultimately, the decision often lies in the small choices we make daily. Will I remain true to myself, or will I submit to the opinions of others? This does not mean being arrogant or self-absorbed; rather, it means not being like a reed swaying in the wind, but instead being like a deeply rooted tree, standing firm in oneself.
Who do you want to be?
